Social Security Disability News

.3% Cost of Living Adjustment increase in 2017

Substantial gainful activity will increase to $1170/mo for those who are not blind and $1950/mo for those who are. SSI primary insurance amounts for those who are single will be $735/mo and $1103/mo for those who are married.

Revised Mental Health Listings Effective January 17, 2017

The Social Security Administration is revising the criteria in the Listing of Impairments used to evaluate claims involving mental disorders in adults and children.

Updated Compassionate Allowance List

1.5% Cost of Living Adjustment increase in 2014

Substantial gainful activity is $1070/mo for those who are not blind and $1800/mo for those who are. SSI primary insurance amounts for those who are single is $721/mo and for those who are married is $1082/mo.

Acting Commissioner of Social Security Administration

As of February 14, 2013, Carolyn W. Colvin is the new Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration.

SSR 13-2p replaces the 1996 EM-96-200

SSR 13-2p explains SSA’s policies in determining when drug and alcohol addiction is material to a claim.

District offices closing early in 2013

District offices will close to the public at noon on Wednesdays as of January 2, 2013 and will close at 3:00 pm every other day. Hearing offices will not be affected.

As of August 24, 2012, an ALJ will have discretion to skip step 4 of the five step sequential evaluation process if there is insufficient evidence of past work activity pursuant to 77 Fed. Reg. 43492 (July 25, 2012).

SSR 12-2p outlines the 1990 ACR Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia and the 2010 ACR Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria and uses each to determine if a claimant has a medically diagnosed impairment.

The Social Security Administration no longer discloses an Administrative Law Judge assigned to a claim

The SSA has attempted to prevent forum shopping by hiding the ALJ until just before a hearing.

52 new medical conditions added to the Compassionate Allowance List

In April 2012, the Social Security Administration added 52 new conditions to the Compassionate Allowance list. For more information, go to our Social Security Disability Blog.

The Social Security Administration limits a claimant’s ability to file subsequent applications

On 7/28/11, the SSA published SSR 11-1p stating that it will no longer accept subsequent applications for the same type of claim while a prior disability claim is pending administrative review. Claimants will now have to choose between appealing an unfavorable decision and filing a new application.

The United States Supreme Court has held that EAJA fees belong to the prevailing party, not the prevailing party’s attorney

In Astrue v. Ratliff, 130 S. Ct. 2521 (2010), the Supreme Court overruled the 8th Circuit and held that the federal government can offset Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) fees with prior debt owed to the government, such as child support or taxes. Astrue v. Ratliff may result in fewer Social Security disability lawyers taking cases at the Federal Court level in fear that EAJA fees will be intercepted by the Federal Government for prior debts owed.

Reconsideration reinstated in Colorado?

Colorado is one of ten prototype states that eliminated the reconsideration stage of the disability appeals process. The reconsideration stage occurs after the initial denial and before the Request for a Hearing. Congress is debating whether or not to reinstate the reconsideration stage. Some believe that reinstatement will cause unnecessary delays in the already too lengthy disability process.

Aid to the Needy and Disabled (AND) benefits will not be suspended

Governor Ritter’s Colorado budget plan initially included a suspension of AND benefits effective January 1, 2010. Fortunately, plans to suspend AND benefits have been cancelled.

Long Backlogs for disability benefits

In January 2008, CBS Evening news covered a story on the long backlogs and wait times for social security disability applicants.

Fee Increase

The Social Security Administration increased the fee cap from $5,300 to $6,000 effective as of June 22, 2009.

New Child Social Security Rules

The Social Security Administration published eight new Social Security Rules dealing with the “functional equivalence” rule for child disability benefits.

ALJ Dispositions

Click here to search for production numbers and approval ratings of all Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) between 2005 and 2008. The Social Security Administration produced this information after receiving a Freedom of Information Act request by The Oregonian Newspaper. Also, the Social Security Administration has published an ALJ Dispositional Data File, giving statistical information for ALJs in fiscal year 2010.

Disclaimer: This site is purely informational and is not a substitute for legal advice. Only a signed agreement from this Colorado Springs law firm creates a lawyer-client relationship. The information on this site is intended, but not guaranteed, to be accurate and current. Disability and bankruptcy attorney Diane K. Bross practices in the following counties: El Paso, Pueblo, Teller, Fremont, Otero, and Crowley. Past results are no guarantee of future performance.